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Publisher's Summary

"We're getting the band back together."

Those six words send a chill down Miki St. John's spine, especially when they're spoken with a nearly religious fervor by his brother-in-all-but-blood, Damien Mitchell. However, those words were nothing compared to what Damien says next.

"And we're going on tour."

When Crossroads Gin hits the road, Damien hopes it will draw them closer together. There's something magical about being on tour, especially when traveling in a van with no roadies, managers, or lovers to act as a buffer. The band is already close, but Damien knows they can be more brothers of sorts, bound not only by familial ties but by their intense love for music.

As they travel from gig to gig, the band is haunted by past mistakes and personal demons, but they forge on. For Miki, Damie, Forest, and Rafe, the stage is where they all truly come alive, and the music they play is as important to them as the air they breathe.

But those demons and troubles won't leave them alone, and with every mile under their belts, the band faces its greatest challenge overcoming their deepest flaws and not killing one another along the way.

I enjoyed that this book was about the band. Each of them had a POV moment, but there was no over all plot as such. It kind of sounded like a series of short stories rather than a flowing narrative. The audio book itself was around 3 hours shorter than the rest of the Sinner's series, and I felt that just as we were getting going, it ended abruptly, nonsensically and we had an epilogue with a cliffhanger. I'm happy this is not the last book, but damn... Rhys Ford is such a tease.

I still have issues with the narrator. His voices are wonderful, as is his pacing, but he doesn't do the research when there are words he doesn't know how to pronounce. The word "Buoy" which we all know is BOY, was read as 'Boo-hee'. Not to mention my BIGGEST BUGBEAR of this series, the character Sionn is Gaelic for Shaun, but the narrator pronounces his name as SHOON. I cringe every time i hear him say that.

There were also long pauses between chapters and a change in the recording levels in the middle of this audio book. I know the narrator uses a home studio, but these little niggly things are newbie errors and Tristan James has been doing this for a while. The errors really affect the overall quality of the recording and in turn, the listeners enjoyment of the book. With this being the most recent recording, he should be getting better rather than worse!

I loved this the band performing gigs. The Morgans left at home.coming to the rescue when needed. Poor Miki I just want to wrap him up in Bubblewrap to keep him safe. Can't wait to see how Brigit handles Connor and Forest

I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating, Tristan James has made this series exponentially better through his narration.

He captures Miki and Kane’s frustration and fear for what’s happening around Miki and what’s ahead. He perfectly dramatizes Damien’s worry for Miki and Sionn’s stalwart shoulder to lean on through thick and thin. He brilliantly presents how much Forest and Connor love and cherish each other. He emotes all the feelings Rafe has about possibly screwing up the best things he’s ever had and Quinn’s calming way.

He performs this all so well – it’s just plain brilliant.

I love the Sinners series. I love how each of the band members were broken in some way and have slowly begun to heal through the love of their men, family, and their own brotherhood.

But this is Rhys Ford, and there’s no easy lunch here. The boys are put through the ringer just like always.

In this story Miki deals with his issues and takes some hard hits, Damien is haunted by his childhood, Rafe battles his own personal demons, and Forest misses his heart and soul.

There’s a bit of suspense, action, mystery, and, of course, romance.

Filled with a good amount of page time for all of the guys, the story focuses just a bit more on Miki and his relationships with Kane and Damien. And poor Miki. That guy’s been through the ringer, but Ford isn’t done with him yet.

If I have one complaint about the story it’s that unfortunately, for me, the story ends with a lot of unanswered questions and a pretty “whoa!” cliffhanger.

Rhys Ford knows how to blend romance, suspense, mystery, and action together to make a really engrossing story. The characters are all so realistic…I just wish I could gather up Miki, Damie, Rafe, and Forest and just give them all a big hug.

This is not a standalone – but the silver lining there is if you haven’t grabbed up this series on audio or in print you’re about to go for an awesome ride.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Annika

09/02/18

Overall

Performance

Story

"Nothing spectacular"

The band is going on a tour, but instead of the previous sold out, high tech revenues, they are starting from scratch, with dingy bars and no fame or fortune to their names.

Absinthe of Malice reads more like a “where are they now?” kind of book. It’s not a book that really stands on its own, so to fully appreciate it you need to have read the previous books in the Sinners series. We catch up with each couple as the band travel from gig to gig. Things happening along the way brings the past back into their lives and some will struggle more than others.

I’ve loved the other books in this series and have devoured all of them these past few weeks. So I’m really sad that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the rest. To me it didn’t really fit it with the other books. It didn’t have the same vibe to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not in a bad book or read, but compared to the rest of the series it is lacking. I missed the suspense, the intensity that was present in the other books. And what little was there was kind of hidden or brushed away.

Tristan James was back to his monotone way of narration. His voice is pleasant to listen to. And this might be an unpopular thought, but he has the kind of voice that should read bedtime stories because the listener will fall asleep in no time. By this I don't mean they fall asleep of boredom of any kind. Just that his voice has this relaxing and calming tone which is perfect for bedtime stories of when you want to relax. For suspense or romance novels it feels a bit off. But this is my own personal opinion so feel free to ignore me.

While it was nice to catch up with them all and see them moving forward, I was expecting a bit more on the suspense that has been so prominent in the previous books. That being said, I am really looking forward to reading the next (and last) book in this series. That was one heck of an ending to this book!

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Tams (TTC Books and more)

JUSTIN, TX, United States

10/03/17

Overall

Performance

Story

"Something wicked this way comes."

If you could sum up Absinthe of Malice in three words, what would they be?

Intense, psychotic, brilliant.

What other book might you compare Absinthe of Malice to and why?

Any other book written by Rhys Ford. She's brilliant and emotional and it conveys in her stories, radiates within her characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

How about all of them. Yeah, that one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

You can't read or listen to a Rhys Ford book and not be moved, just like with the previous question, all of them (?) With this story being about all 4 members of the new band, there are multiple moving moments. I will say that I quite liked the way Donal got Mickie to open up to him, that was beautiful and raw and perfect.

Any additional comments?

As Brigid Morgan might say... Jesus, Mary and Joseph! These children of hers, not all by birth but loved unconditionally none the less, could find trouble if they were locked in a padded cell, alone, and tied up in a straight jacket. I honestly don't think a damn one of them would know what to do with themselves if someone wasn't trying to kill them.

Narrated by Tristan James and lord do I love his Irish brogue. There are a LOT and when I say lot I seriously mean, a fuck ton a lot of characters and each and every one has their own distinct tone. There are also multiple accents he has to translate and he flows through a conversation with multiple characters without missing a beat.

I love this series and this motley crew of characters that are full of piss and vinegar, but love so fiercely that you can't help but be drawn into their web. I think I will have to have a good cry when this series comes to an end.

Tams E-book review from June 2016

Now that Mikie and Damie have found a drummer and a bass player, Damie is ready to take their newly formed band, Crossroads Gin, on the road to tour. He wants to keep it simple, no big tour bus with all the amenities, no five star hotels. No one star hotels either if I'm being honest. Damie is certain that the bond the four of them have formed will only be strengthened by traveling and doing what they love, playing. Here's the problem with this scenario... It may be a mutual love of music that brought these four men together, but it's the love of the four big, brooding Irish men that have captured these misfits and outcasts hearts that keep them all sane.

They aren't on the road for twenty four hours when the shit hits the fan at their first venue on the tour, landing Mikie in the hospital and Kane is fit to be tied, gunning to take his frustration out on the guy who's brilliant idea this hot mess was... Damie. These two are going to have to learn to share the person they both love endlessly before they drive him mad. Damie puts on a brave front, the man is stubborn, hard headed and loyal to a fault. But Damie has his own demons that need to be laid to rest, as does Rafe.

Let's talk about that for a minute shall we. Who's brilliant idea was it to take the recovering drug addict on tour without a chaperone? So yes, there are problems and issues and concerns from the start, but the guys are determined to follow through and finish the tour. If they can keep away from the crazy man that likes to play with sharp things and stalk equally crazy lead singers that may be five foot nothing, one hundred pounds dripping wet, but wicked dangerous I assure you.

What I love most about this series is this larger than life family, The Morgan clan, and how fiercely protective they are of their own. That now includes Mikie, Damie, Forest and Rafe, whether they like it or not. Brigid and Donal Morgan will put everything on hold and call down the wrath of the Gods to protect their own and that really comes across in the way they are written. Then there is the banter back and forth between family, friends and lovers that is absolutely hysterical. You get to pull back a few more layers with Mikie and Damie in this book and more questions are answered. Why does Mikie go off on these occasional pissed of tirades? And what in the blue hell was Damie thinking with the dilapidated van and back woods, cockroach motels for the tour? Sionn has to dig deep to get that burr out of his lovers butt, but he does and it really explained a lot, answered some lingering questions, for me at least.

While Forest and Connor stole the show hands down in this book, they are so beautifully written together, the passion and the connection these two share really jumps off the page. I think my favorite part was when Quinn had to be the tree for Rafe. Strong as on Oak, but flexible, Quinn took on the protector role in this book for his lover and it was absolutely amazing. The way Ford wrote the entire scene, the inner monologue from Rafe, Quinn steadfast, loyal and listening... just listening and loving. When I finished the book, I went back and read that part and the part with Forest and Connor on the tour bus, cause, dayum!

A must read for fans of the Author or the series. Non-stop action; murder, mystery and mayhem the likes of which we have come to expect from Rhys Ford with the perfect blend of passion, love, camaraderie and comic relief.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Robert Brereton

12/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Disjointed"

I've enjoyed all the other books in the series. For some reason this one seemed quite disjointed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

James

Canada

09/11/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Brilliant as always"

Rhys has a way with words that not only puts you there; you have every sense alert and begging for more!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

katelyn

CA, US

30/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Finally! and Yes. *happy sigh*"

I have loved this series, and anxiously awaited this installment - then I read the blurb and got a little afraid. I was not at all sure about a Crossroads Gin book - but then - it was just perfection. This book allows us to revisit all of the things (and people) that made the foundation of the series so amazing - brought me to tears yet again ... and just pulled the heart strings of the family ties all the tighter.

Nothing disappointing about this one at all ... well worth the wait, the time, the credit (or cash) ...

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Nicole

12/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Tristan James is perfection as a narrator."

Rhys Ford never fails to draw in a listener and Tristan James is one of my favorite narrators!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kindle Customer

Virginia

12/10/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Awesome"

As always, Greg and Rhys are an incredible team, not to be missed, listen now

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

Damien decides to take Crossroads Gin on tour. Miki, Forest and Rafe all have their own demons to chase, as does Damien but he hopes this tour will bring them closer to each other, to get back what they had with Sinners Gin. The further along the tour they go, the more those demons push and torment. Will it bring them closer, or push them further apart?

Oh I LOVED catching up with these boys! And I do mean everyone. We get some of each couple, Miki and Kane; Damien and Sionn; Forest and Connor; Rafe and Quinn and even Ma and Da pop up along the way.

Each member of the band struggles in their own way being separated from the other halves of their souls. Miki really goes through the wringer here and Rafe is pushed to his very limits.

Its full of soul searching, deep and painful, spaced with a reunion of each pair at various points. ( I found it to be not as explicit as some of the other books, but thats not a bad thing, not at all!) It has each band member's feeling about being on tour and on stage. It has each band member's reaction to everything that happens.

It also has a CORKER of a cliff hanger! I mean a freaking corker that was like SAY WHAT NOW?!?!?!?!?

I need to listen to this too. I could hear Tristan James in my head while reading but I'll say the same as I did in my read review for Sloe Ride. I'm not hearing the VOICES correctly, and it was doing my head in. So much so, I went back and listened to some of Sloe Ride, just to get everyone right. Still need to listen to it though!

I'll not say anymore, because I don't wanna give spoilers. BUT! If you are a follower of the Sinners Gin series, you'll need to know this: One more time. Just one more time we'll get to catch up with these guys. Just the one. And I'm sad about that but equally, I know the series end is gonna be awesome!

5 stars

I was also given the opportunity to LISTEN to this book, via Divine Magazine. I was gifted the audio file.

Tristan James narrates, as he does the whole series. And I cannot, absolutely CANNOT fault his work. The man is a genius at the voices of everyone. I have some hearing issues which means I struggle with speech tones, especially when there are multiple people talking. I have NO issues with James' voices. I can define each and every one, clearly, with no bother at all, even when they all wanna take part in the conversation! He portrays all their emotions, their feelings, their fears about this tour, in such a way, that you wanna hug each and every one of the boys in the band, and their mates just like Ma would do.

His reading voice is clear and deep and even and lulls you, you know? You sort of get pulled in a false sense of security, because while you are lulling along, listening to an excellent book with excellent narration, Ford will then spit at you, throw something at you that makes you gasp out loud, shout WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT and make you (or it did me, even though I had READ this previously so kinda knew what to expect!) rewind, and listen to the bit again, because you might have misheard James. But no, you didn't.

I knew when I was reading this book, I wasn't hearing the voices right. I KNEW I had to listen to this book, even though I have read it already, but I'm finding I like doing that. Reading it, then listening at a later date. Not some much to listen first THEN read though. Sorry, going off topic. I KNEW i had to listen to this book. James does not disappoint, no ma'am, not at all.